DoD Continues Support to Combat Wildfires

A soldier looks out from a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during a firefighting support mission at Yosemite National Park, Calif., Aug. 22, 2013. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Julie Avey)

Story by Ian Phillips, Defense Media Activity

The Defense Department continues its support to battle wildfires in the western United States. Units assigned to the Air National Guard, Army National Guard and U.S. Navy are assisting CAL FIRE and the California Department of Emergency Services.

As of today, the following DoD resources are part of efforts to support firefighters on the ground:

One MQ-1 Remotely Piloted Aircraft has been deployed to assisted incident commanders

One Navy firetruck and three personnel

13 California National Guard aircraft and crews

18 drops on Wednesday alone totaling 53,850 gallons of phos-chek fire retardant on the rim fire at Yosemite National Park in California